Polar Vortex may make a return trip to Wisconsin

Temperatures near zero expected next week

u local user "davidtiller" shows us what happens when water is thrown into freezing air.

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u local user "davidtiller" shows us what happens when water is thrown into freezing air.

The polar vortex that gripped much of the country has moved on, but don't get too comfortable -- another round of frigid air is expected to arrive next week across the northern U.S., from the Dakotas eastward to New England.

It'll be cold, but not the life-threatening cold of last week when subzero temperatures enveloped much of the country and contributed to at least a dozen deaths.

Temperatures will start falling over the weekend into Monday. The cold is expected to persist until Thursday, just in time for a second blast of frigid air to move in and keep temperatures about 10 degrees below average.

"We get these periods of below-normal temperatures in the winter. It's not abnormally cold, it's not a record cold but it is colder than normal," said Bob McMahon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "People just need to be aware of that and take normal precautions."

While states such as Florida and Texas will see temperatures in the 60s near 70 by Monday, the northern and northeastern states won't see highs above the single digits.

In parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, highs might not even top zero.

Lows are expected to remain in the subzero range on Tuesday night. While New England could see highs of about 20 on Wednesday, the upper Midwest probably won't see temperatures above the teens. That cold front is expected to be gone by Thursday.

Winds are not expected to be a serious factor this time around, but at such low temperatures even a mild wind could produce a dangerous wind chill.